An Everett police officer and deputies with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office were involved in an officer-involved shooting on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the 800 block of 91st Pl SW in Everett. (Everett Police Department)

An Everett police officer and deputies with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office were involved in an officer-involved shooting on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at the 800 block of 91st Pl SW in Everett. (Everett Police Department)

Report: Everett man pointed gun, fled home before fatal police shooting

Two SWAT team members were put on leave following the deadly police shooting early Saturday in south Everett.

EVERETT — An Everett man allegedly pointed a gun out the window and emerged from his home with two handguns before two SWAT team members shot him to death, according to the first official account of the incident released Monday afternoon.

Everett police responded to a report of “domestic violence with visible injuries” around 11:20 p.m. Friday at a home in the 800 block of 91st Place SW, according to a press release from the Skagit-Island Multiple Agency Response Team. Officers were aware the man had owned rifles and handguns in the past. Police used a public address system to try to call the man outside.

“When he was seen looking out the window and not responding, he was considered a barricaded suspect,” according to the press release.

The Snohomish County Region 1 SWAT team was called in, while police tried to negotiate.

“During the attempts to negotiate with the suspect, he was seen pointing a gun out the window,” the investigative team wrote. “Attempts were made to negotiate with him also by text and phone.”

Eventually, officers got a warrant to arrest the man.

Around 1:20 a.m., the team entered the back yard and “gave the suspect verbal commands,” according to the press release.

Two SWAT members opened fire.

The Everett man, 58, died at the scene. According to the official account, he had two handguns on him. No SWAT members were hurt. His identity had not been released as of Monday.

The two officers who fired were an Everett officer with seven years of service and a Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy with nine years of service. Both were put on paid administrative leave, as is standard practice.

The Skagit-Island team was called in to investigate to avoid a potential conflict of interest.

On Monday, the neighborhood was quiet and nobody answered the door at the address of the shooting. At least three vehicles were parked in the driveway outside a grayish single-story home with an attached garage. The front yard did not appear disturbed.

A neighbor next door, who asked to not be identified by name, said he woke up around 1 a.m. Saturday to find the neighborhood filled with police officers. He said he could hear police near his backyard breaking down sections of his neighbor’s fence to get into the property. He didn’t know anything else, and he hadn’t been given updates about the situation.

It took over two days for law enforcement to confirm many basic facts about the case: whether there were injuries or fatalities; how many officers opened fire; and why they were called to the home in the first place.

Mt. Vernon Lt. Mike Moore, a spokesperson for the Skagit-Island team, said in a press release that the lack of information stemmed from state legislation that took effect in 2022, WAC 139-12-030, regulating independent investigations of police use of deadly force. The bill was aimed at “enhancing public trust.”

According to the legislation, the team must assign non-law enforcement representatives from the affected community to review the investigation. The team must also establish a family liaison within the first 24 hours of the incident and a tribal liaison, if applicable. These are required to be fulfilled before information can be released about the investigation, Moore wrote.

The code requires independent investigation teams to provide citizen representatives with “a copy of all press releases and communication to the media prior to release,” and family must be given notice about any scheduled press release.

However, it does not specifically bar police from speaking to the media and providing basic information.

The state code also emphasizes the importance of transparency and states “communication is key to enhancing the public’s perception of police legitimacy and fairness. A lack of communication leads to suspicion and damages trust.”

Moore did not return a reporter’s phone message over the weekend. His phone went to voicemail after one ring Monday.

According to the state code, the investigative team is required to update the public once per week at minimum.

Jonathan Tall: 425-339-3486; jonathan.tall@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @EDHJonTall.

Maya Tizon: 425-339-3434; maya.tizon@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @mayatizon.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Customers enter and exit the Costco on Dec. 2, 2022, in Lake Stevens. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Costco stores could be impacted by looming truck driver strike threat

Truck drivers who deliver groceries and produce to Costco warehouses… Continue reading

Two Washington State ferries pass along the route between Mukilteo and Clinton as scuba divers swim near the shore Sunday, Oct. 22, 2023, in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ferry system increases ridership by a half million in 2024

Edmonds-Kingston route remains second-busiest route in the system.

Alina Langbehn, 6, center, and Vera A., 6, right, sit on a swing together at Drew Nielsen Neighborhood Park after school on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett council votes to renovate Drew Nielsen Park

Construction on the $345,000 upgrade could start as early as this fall.

Northshore School District bus driver Stewart O’Leary pictured next to his buses shattered drivers side windshield on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 in Bothell, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
‘Put me in, coach’: Bus driver back at work after struck by metal bar

Stewart O’Leary, a Northshore employee, has received national attention for his composure during a frightening bus trip.

Lynnwood councilor Joshua Binda speaks during a Lynnwood City Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Does the Lynnwood Council VP live in Lynnwood? It’s hard to say.

Josh Binda’s residency has been called into question following an eviction and FEC filings listing an Everett address. He insists he lives in Lynnwood.

Robin Cain with 50 of her marathon medals hanging on a display board she made with her father on Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Running a marathon is hard. She ran one in every state.

Robin Cain, of Lake Stevens, is one of only a few thousand people to ever achieve the feat.

People line up to grab food at the Everett Recovery Cafe on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Coffee, meals and compassion are free at the Everett Recovery Cafe

The free, membership-based day center offers free coffee and meals and more importantly, camaraderie and recovery support.

The Everett Wastewater Treatment Plant along the Snohomish River on Thursday, June 16, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett water, sewer rates could jump 43% by 2028

The rate hikes would pay for improvements to the city’s sewer infrastructure.

The bond funded new track and field at Northshore Middle School on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Bothell, Washington. (Courtesy of Northshore School District)
Northshore School District bond improvements underway

The $425 million bond is funding new track and field complexes, playgrounds and phase one of two school replacements.

An American Robin picks a berry from a holly tree on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Calling all birders for the annual Great Backyard Bird Count

The Audubon Society will hold its 28th annual Great Backyard… Continue reading

A view of one of the potential locations of the new Aquasox stadium on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. The site sits between Hewitt Avenue, Broadway, Pacific Avenue and the railroad. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Initial prep work for AquaSox stadium to start, with $200k price tag

The temporary agreement allows some surveying and design work as the city negotiates contracts with designers and builders.

Aaron Kennedy / The Herald
The Joann Fabric and Crafts store at 7601 Evergreen Way, Everett, is one of three stores in Snohomish County that will close as part of the retailer’s larger plan to shutter more than half of its stores nationwide.
Joann store closure plan includes Everett, Arlington, Lynnwood locations

The retail giant filed a motion in court to close approximately 500 stores in the U.S.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.